Plot inspired by film fails, two held for kidnapping

The police have arrested two men on charges of kidnapping the six-year-old son of a Sion jeweller last week.

The police have arrested two men on charges of kidnapping the six-year-old son of a Sion jeweller last week.

One of the kidnappers, Monu Singh (22), was a former employee of the boy’s father Om Prakash Gupta, the Antop Hill police said.

Singh was arrested on Tuesday after his accomplice Sachin Sonawane (23), who was arrested on Sunday after Prahlad Gupta was rescued, spilled the beans.

On February 7, when Prahlad was playing outside his uncle’s house at Sion-Koliwada, Singh and Sonawane lured him with chocolates and abducted him.

“Singh used to work at the construction raw material shop run by the Guptas and frequently visited their house. Since Prahlad knew him, he did not cry when the duo took him in a taxi to Singh’s Diva residence,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Baviskar, adding that financial woes drove Monu to hatch the kidnap plan.

“Two years ago, Singh quit and was odd jobs. He needed money for his sister’s wedding and his appendix operation.” The police said that the duo, inspired by the Ajay Devgan-starrer Apaharan, had meticulously planned the kidnap.

“Singh had been plotting the kidnap since three months. In fact, he even did a recce of the area two days before the kidnapping,” said Baviskar.

On Sunday, Singh called Om Prakash and demanded Rs 30 lakh as ransom.

“Gupta had suspected Monu as he was seen roaming in the area a day prior to the incident. Moreover, he also recognised Singh’s voice on the phone,” said Senior Inspector Vishnu Deokar. “We questioned Singh’s friends, including Sonawane, who confessed.”

The two were remanded to police custody till February 18, by a Kurla court on Wednesday.